scholarly journals Petrochirus sp. (Anomura, Paguroidea, Diogenidae) from the early Pleistocene of the Podere dell’Infrascato, Volterra (Pisa, Tuscany, central Italy)

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Giovanni Pasini ◽  
Alessandro Garassino
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Genus Distribution

We report <em>Petrochirus</em> sp. (Diogenidae Ortmann, 1892) from the early Pleistocene of the Podere dell’Infrascato, Volterra (Pisa, Tuscany, central Italy). The record of <em>Petrochirus</em> sp. in this peculiar environment (upper bathyal zone) is significant due to the scarce knowledge about the genus distribution in the paleo-Mediterranean area.

scholarly journals An Italian Research Culture Collection of Wood Decay Fungi

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Elena Girometta ◽  
Annarosa Bernicchia ◽  
Rebecca Michela Baiguera ◽  
Francesco Bracco ◽  
Simone Buratti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Wood Decay ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Culture Collection ◽  
White Rot ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Research Culture ◽  
Decay Fungi ◽  
Mn Peroxidase ◽  
The Mediterranean

One of the main aims of the University of Pavia mycology laboratory was to collect wood decay fungal (WDF) strains in order to deepen taxonomic studies, species distribution, officinal properties or to investigate potential applications such as biocomposite material production based on fungi. The Italian Alps, Apennines and wood plains were investigated to collect Basidiomycota basidiomata from living or dead trees. The purpose of this study was to investigate the wood decay strains of the Mediterranean area, selecting sampling sites in North and Central Italy, including forests near the Ligurian and Adriatic seas, or near the Lombardy lakes. The isolation of mycelia in pure culture was performed according to the current methodology and the identity of the strains was confirmed by molecular analyses. The strains are maintained in the Research Culture Collection MicUNIPV of Pavia University (Italy). Among the 500 WDF strains in the collection, the most interesting isolates from the Mediterranean area are: Dichomitus squalens (basidioma collected from Pinus pinea), Hericium erinaceus (medicinal mushroom), Inocutis tamaricis (white-rot agent on Tamarix trees), Perenniporia meridionalis (wood degrader through Mn peroxidase) and P. ochroleuca. In addition, strains of species related to the Mediterranean climate (e.g., Fomitiporia mediterranea and Cellulariella warnieri) were obtained from sites with a continental-temperate climate.

scholarly journals Evidence of Predation on Early Pleistocene Freshwater Ostracods (Umbria, Central Italy)

Geosciences ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 416
Author(s):  
Angela Baldanza ◽  
Roberto Bizzarri ◽  
Francesco Posati ◽  
Manuel Ravoni
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Short Time Interval ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
Plant Remains ◽  
Confined Environment ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Lake Deposits ◽  
Freshwater Ostracods

Although drillholes in modern and ancient ostracods are known, the record is relatively scarce when compared to other taxa, and mainly exist with reference to the marine environment. Moreover, less is known about perforated ostracods, and more generally, about bioerosion in freshwater environments. Traces of predation on freshwater ostracods are reported for the first time in deep-lake deposits belonging to the early Pleistocene Fosso Bianco Unit, and outcropping in the Cava Nuova section (Umbria, central Italy). Deposits are mainly clay to silty clay and sand; the fossil record is sparse, and is mainly comprised of very rare gastropods and bivalves, ostracods and plant remains (leaves, seeds and wood’s fragments). The association of ostracods consists of Candona (Neglecandona) neglecta, Caspiocypris basilicii, Caspiocypris tiberina, Caspiocypris perusia, Caspiocypris tuderis, Caspiocypris posteroacuta, and Cyprideis torosa. The Caspiocypris group, considered to be endemic to the grey clays of the Fosso Bianco Unit, present the majority of specimens affected by predation, with a prevalence of predated female valves and a comparable number of right and left predated valves, while only a few of Candona(N.) neglecta (adult and juvenile) valves are perforated. Traces of predation for nourishment, represented by microborings of different types, were abscribed to the ichnospecies Oichnus paraboloides Bromley 1981, Oichnus simplex Bromley 1981, Oichnus gradatus Nielsen and Nielsen 2001, Oichnus ovalis Bromley 1993, and Dipatulichnus rotundus Nielsen and Nielsen 2001. Microboring affected both adult and juvenile specimens, evidencing prey–predator coexistence in the same environment over a long period of time. This report makes a fundamental contribution to the knowledge of predation in this peculiar confined environment, also suggesting prey–predator relations over a relatively short time interval (80–160 ka).

scholarly journals Suidae Transition at the Miocene-Pliocene Boundary: a Reassessment of the Taxonomy and Chronology of Propotamochoerus provincialis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessio Iannucci ◽  
Marco Cherin ◽  
Leonardo Sorbelli ◽  
Raffaele Sardella
Keyword(s):  
Late Miocene ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Messinian Salinity Crisis ◽  
Compelling Evidence ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Faunal Assemblages ◽  
Paleoenvironmental Changes ◽  
Species Diagnosis ◽  
Eurasian Species

Abstract The Miocene-Pliocene (Turolian-Ruscinian) transition represents a fundamental interval in the evolution of Euro-Mediterranean paleocommunities. In fact, the paleoenvironmental changes connected with the end of the Messinian salinity crisis are reflected by a major renewal in mammal faunal assemblages. An important bioevent among terrestrial large mammals is the dispersal of the genus Sus, which replaced all other suid species during the Pliocene. Despite its possible paleoecological and biochronological relevance, correlations based on this bioevent are undermined by the supposed persistence of the late surviving late Miocene Propotamochoerus provincialis. However, a recent revision of the type material of this species revealed an admixture with remains of Sus strozzii, an early Pleistocene (Middle Villafranchian to Epivillafranchian) suid, questioning both the diagnosis and chronological range of P. provincialis. Here we review the late Miocene Suidae sample recovered from the Casino Basin (Tuscany, central Italy), whose taxonomic attribution has been controversial over the nearly 150 years since its discovery. Following a comparison with other Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene Eurasian species, the Casino Suidae are assigned to P. provincialis and the species diagnosis is emended. Moreover, it is recognized that all the late Miocene (Turolian) European Propotamochoerus material belongs to P. provincialis and that there is no compelling evidence of the occurrence of this species beyond the Turolian-Ruscinian transition (MN13-MN14).

scholarly journals From fault creep to slow and fast earthquakes in carbonates

Geology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 744-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franҫois X. Passelègue ◽  
Jérôme Aubry ◽  
Aurélien Nicolas ◽  
Michele Fondriest ◽  
Damien Deldicque ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Waves ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Confining Pressure ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Rupture Propagation ◽  
Fault Creep ◽  
Seismogenic Layer ◽  
Elastic Loading ◽  
High Frequency Seismic Waves ◽  
Hypocentral Location

Abstract A major part of the seismicity striking the Mediterranean area and other regions worldwide is hosted in carbonate rocks. Recent examples are the destructive earthquakes of L’Aquila (Mw 6.1) in 2009 and Norcia (Mw 6.5) in 2016 in central Italy. Surprisingly, within this region, fast (≈3 km/s) and destructive seismic ruptures coexist with slow (≤10 m/s) and nondestructive rupture phenomena. Despite its relevance for seismic hazard studies, the transition from fault creep to slow and fast seismic rupture propagation is still poorly constrained by seismological and laboratory observations. Here, we reproduced in the laboratory the complete spectrum of natural faulting on samples of dolostones representative of the seismogenic layer in the region. The transitions from fault creep to slow ruptures and from slow to fast ruptures were obtained by increasing both confining pressure (P) and temperature (T) up to conditions encountered at 3–5 km depth (i.e., P = 100 MPa and T = 100 °C), which corresponds to the hypocentral location of slow earthquake swarms and the onset of seismicity in central Italy. The transition from slow to fast rupture is explained by an increase in the ambient temperature, which enhances the elastic loading stiffness of the fault, i.e., the slip velocities during nucleation, allowing flash weakening and, in turn, the propagation of fast ruptures radiating intense high-frequency seismic waves.

ANALYSIS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF EPIPHYTIC LICHENS ON QUERCUS PUBESCENS ALONG AN ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT IN A MEDITERRANEAN AREA (TUSCANY, CENTRAL ITALY)

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Loppi ◽  
Stergios Arg. Pirintsos ◽  
Vincenzo De Dominicis
Keyword(s):  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Multivariate Techniques ◽  
Epiphytic Lichens ◽  
Climatic Parameters ◽  
Quercus Pubescens ◽  
Epiphytic Lichen ◽  
The Core ◽  
Satellite Species

The distribution of epiphytic lichens on Quercus pubescens in Tuscany, central Italy, was studied by means of multivariate techniques along an altitudinal gradient from 0 to 900 m. Great differences in community structure were found and the altitude of 500 m was identified as an ecotone. Epiphytic lichen vegetation on trees below the ecotone varied significantly in relation to bark pH. Climatic parameters (temperature and rainfall) were probably related to altitude. Dust was probably responsible for the rise in bark pH. The distribution of lichen species in the sampling belts fitted the core-satellite hypothesis. The use of core and satellite species as biomonitors of air pollution and bioindicators of environmental conditions is discussed.

Early pleistocene palynostratigraphy of fornace tini, Valle Ricca (Central Italy)

1983 ◽  
Vol 41 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigitte Urban ◽  
Claudio Arias ◽  
Giulio Bigazzi ◽  
Francescopaolo Bonadonna
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Early Pleistocene

scholarly journals A key continental archive for the last 2 Ma of climatic history of the central Mediterranean region: A pilot drilling in the Fucino Basin, central Italy

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Giaccio ◽  
E. Regattieri ◽  
G. Zanchetta ◽  
B. Wagner ◽  
P. Galli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Lacustrine Sediments ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Xrf Scanning ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sedimentary Succession ◽  
Geochemical Analyses ◽  
Fucino Basin

Abstract. An 82 m long sedimentary succession was retrieved from the Fucino Basin, the largest intermountain tectonic depression of the central Apennines. The basin hosts a succession of fine-grained lacustrine sediments (ca. 900 m-thick) possibly continuously spanning the last 2 Ma. A preliminary tephrostratigraphy study allows us to ascribe the drilled 82 m long record to the last 180 ka. Multi-proxy geochemical analyses (XRF scanning, total organic/inorganic carbon, nitrogen and sulfur, oxygen isotopes) reveal noticeable variations, which are interpreted as paleohydrological and paleoenvironmental expressions related to classical glacial–interglacial cycles from the marine isotope stage (MIS) 6 to present day. In light of the preliminary results, the Fucino sedimentary succession is likely to provide a long, continuous, sensitive, and independently dated paleoclimatic archive of the central Mediterranean area.

High-resolution U–Pb dating of an Early Pleistocene stalagmite from Corchia Cave (central Italy)

2012 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 5-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Bajo ◽  
Russell Drysdale ◽  
Jon Woodhead ◽  
John Hellstrom ◽  
Giovanni Zanchetta
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Early Pleistocene
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